"Partnering police officers with our city's residents and religious leaders is an invaluable tool for building trust and strengthening community relations," Ambrose said in a release about the announcement.

"Seeing a clergy member in (a police) vehicle will very likely encourage residents that their neighborhoods are being protected both by law enforcement and by spiritual re-enforcement."

The clergy members, who city officials say represent a wide number of faiths, will head out with officers on patrol from 4 p.m. to midnight on scheduled ride-along trips, city officials said.

Riding in special yellow and white police cars, they will be tasked with providing comfort and counseling to crime victims and their families, as well as joining officers on hospital and school visits.